Vehicle operator&#39;s station



VEHICLE OPERATORS STATION Filed May 31, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.[2%wwerw May 7, 1963 R. G. LE TOURNEAU VEHICLE OPERATOR'S STATION 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 31, 1961 I N V EN TOR. Zemfe 7mwzaa in!!! fil.ll ev 3,088,537 Patented May 7, 1963 ice 3,088,537 VEHICLE OPERATORSSTATION Robert G. LeTour-neau, R0. Box 2307, Longview, Tex. Filed May31, 1961, Ser. No. 113,890 9 Claims. (Cl. 180--77) This inventionrelates to the operators station of a work performing vehicle, andparticularly to the structure and arrangement of the operators seat,vehicle control panel, and associated apparatus.

In one of its aspects, the present invention is particularly applicableto a self-propelled work vehicle of a type wherein it is very desirablethat the operator be able to face in various directions as the machineperforms its work functions, and yet at all times be locatedconveniently relative to the machine controls. In such a vehicle it isalso desirable that the operator should be able to easily select thedirection he is to face and readily maintain the selected direction.

In another of its aspects, the present invention is particularlyapplicable to the problem of seating an operator for maximum comfort andeffectiveness on a vehicle wherein the operator station may be directlysubjected to severe jolting, pitching, and swaying motions as thevehicle performs its work functions.

In another of its aspects, the present invention is particularlyapplicable to a self-propelled work performing vehicle which iselectrically powered and controlled.

Accordingly, the general object of this invention is to provide animproved operator station for a self-propelled work vehicle. Morespecific objects of the invention are: to provide a control stationwherein the operator can always conveniently reach the machine controlsregardless of the direction he faces; to provide a control stationwherein the operator can readily select and maintain any facingposition; to provide a control station wherein the operator may beseated for maximum comfort and effectiveness; to provide a controlstation wherein the operator may readily control the characteristics ofhis seat to best suit operating conditions and his personal taste; andto provide a control station arrangement ideally suitable for a vehiclewhich is electrically powered and controlled.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparentfrom the following description taken in accordance with the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic perspective view partially in phantom, showingan operators station in accordance with the present invention mounted ona work vehicle;

FIGURE 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the interior of thecontrol apparatus compartment;

FIGURES 3 and 4 are schematic detail views, partially in section,showing the platform to control apparatus compartment latch mechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an operators seat andcontrol panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section view of the apparatus shown by FIGURE 5.

FIGURES 7 and 8 are schematic plan views of the seat and platform;

FIGURES 9 and 10 are detailed views of the seat pivot lock mechanism;and,

FIGURE 11 is a schematic fragmentary view, with parts broken away, ofthe seat of FIGURE 5.

The present invention may of course be utilized by various types of workvehicles, such for example as earth working machines, mobile cranes,logging machines, material handling machines, land clearing machines,load hauling machines, and the like.

For purposes of illustration, the invention is shown in the drawings asapplied to an electrically powered and controlled self-propelled workvehicle in the form of a log stacker (see FIGURE 2). The log stacker 11in a broader sense may be considered as a large material handlingmachine of the fork-lift type, capable of lifting loads up to aboutsixty tons, depending upon the machine size. The log stacker is poweredby an internal combustion engine 13 driving an electric generator 15.Each wheel 17 incorporates a driver in the form of a selfcontainedelectric motor driven gear reduction. One pair of Wheels is steerable bymeans of an electric motor driving a steering sector gear 19. The liftcarriage 21 is powered by an electric motor driven gear reduction 23, asis the load clamp mechanism (gear reduction 25) and the carriage bedtilt mechanism (gear reduction 27). Thus, the log stacker may be said tobe electrically powered and controlled. This is a typical and commoncharacteristic of the type machines to which the present invention insome of its aspects, is particularly applicable. In other words, thesemachines all have a generator system supplying power to electric motordriven wheels, and to electric motor driven mechanisms for performingthe vehicle steering and the various Work functions of the machine. Themachines are of course controlled from an operator station, which is thesubject of the present invention.

The operators station 29 includes a box-like control apparatuscompartment 31 which serves as a base for a platform 33 which ishingedly fixed to form a top closure for said compartment. The platform33- may, if desired, have an enclosed operators cab 35 supported uponand integral with it. The platform floor 33 is preferably made of steelplate material having an opening at its center portion. :Supported bythe margins of said opening and fixed thereto, preferably by welding, isan upstanding hub structure 37. The hub structure protrudes slightlyabove the platform floor and sufficiently below the floor to allowadequate bracing 39 to hold said hub rigid. Also included in theoperators station is a seat 41 and a control panel 43. The purpose ofthe hub structure 37 is to provide a bearing support for the seat 41 andcontrol panel 43.

The operators seat includes a frame in the form of a metal cylinder 45having an integral bottom closure 47 and an open upper end. An integralextension 49 is contoured to form a seat back support. A concave metaldish member 51 is integrally fixed to the cylinder 45 at seat height,forming a closure for the upper end of the cylinder. The dish member 51is formed so that it has a horizontal rim portion 53 fixed at itsperipheral edge to said cylinder 45 and extending slightly inwardlythere from, then a vertical band portion 55 extending slightly upwardlyfrom the rim portion. then a rolled portion 57 curving slightlyoutwardly and upwardly and then inwardly and downwardly forming thedish. The dish member 5-1 is provided with a plurality of perforations59 for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. A seat surface 61 in theform of an air impervious resilient material, such as rubber has acircular shape of diameter slightly larger than that of the cylinder 45.The peripheral portion of the seat surface is clamped by means of aclamping band 63, to the vertical band portion 55 of the dish member 51.A metal tubular member 65 extends along the inner peripheral portion ofthe seat back support 49 and is integrally fixed thereto. A padded seatback 67 fits the inner contour of the seat back support 49 and is fixedby suitable fastener means 69 to the tubular member 65, and also alongits lower margin to the seat back support 49. An opening 71 at the lowercenter portion of the seat back support allows access to the fastenerand tightener joint of the clamping band 63.

A combination conduit, pivot bearing, and support member 73 in the formof a metal tube or pipe, has a lower straight portion 75 merging with afirst curved portion 77 which in turn merges with a reverse curveportion 79, which in turn merges with an upper straight portion 81. Thecurved portions 77, 79 serve to offset the lower straight portion 75from the upper straight portion 81. This combination members 73 is fixedto and partly contained within the cylinder portion 45 of the seatframe. More specifically, the lower straight portion 75 protrudesvertically downward from the bottom closure 47 through an openingtherein, the first curved portion 77 is contained within the cylinder45, with the member 73 protruding through an opening in the cylinder atabout the juncture of the curved portions 77, 79. The openings in thebottom closure 47 and the cylinder 45 are so located that they and thecombination member 73 are bisected by a vertical plane which contains adiameter of the cylinder 45 and also bisects the seat back 49. Thebottom closure opening is located about two-thirds of the way forward ona closure diameter, and the cylinder opening is located at abouttwo-thirds of the cylinder height. The combination member 73 isintegrally fixed to both said closure and said cylinder openings.

The lower straight portion 75 of the combination member 73 is of lengtha little greater than that of the platform hub 37, and has an externaldiameter slightly less than the hub internal diameter. The seat 41 isplaced on the platform 33 with the combination member lower straightportion 75 received by the hub 37, and with the bottom closure 47resting on the hub upper end. The straight portion 75 is retained withinthe hub 37 by suitable means such as set screws 83 which are carried bythe straight portion 75 which protrudes beneath the hub 37, with the setscrews bearing on the hub lower end. Thus, the seat 41 is free to rotateon the platform 33 about the hub central axis.

Fixed onto the upper end of the combination member upper straightportion 81 is the control panel 43. All of the machine operations arecontrolled from this control panel. Mounted to the control panel are thenecessary indicators (not shown) such as engine speed, temperature, fuelguage, oil pressure, vehicle speed, generator voltage, and the like.Also mounted to the control panel are starter controls, throttlecontrols, vehicle wheel motor controls, vehicle steering controls,vehicle braking controls, and machine function controls (not shown). Allof the foregoing controls are electrical, and the control leads 85(electrical connections) extend from the control panel 43 down throughthe combination member 73 and into the control apparatus compartment 31.The control apparatus compartment 31 contains such apparatus as terminalstrips 87, relays 89, rectifiers 91, resistors 93, and the like, andserves as an electrical distribution and nerve center for the machine.

The machine operator sits on the seat 41 astride the combination member73, and in front of and within convenient reach of the control panel 43.He can readily swing the seat 41 to face any desired direction; with theswinging movement being facilitated by the fact that the seat pivot axisis ahead of the seat center. The operator can easily lock the seat inany position by use of a triction locking device 95 (see FIGURES 9 andThe friction locking device includes a cam actuator 97 and a snubber 99.The snubber is simply a short rod or plunger 101 carried by a sleeve 103which is fixed to the bottom portion of the seat cylinder 45. Theplunger 101 is free to move vertically within the sleeve 103, with itslower end in contact with the upper surface of the platform 33. Ifdesired, the plunger can be spring biased so as to be out of contactwith the platform except when in the locking position. The cam actuator07 is a single member having a handle portion 105, a cam portion 107 anda stop portion 109, and is pivotally secured at 111 to the seat cylinder45 above the plunger 101 so that the cam portion 107 bears on the upperend of the plunger .101.

The friction locking device is positioned so that the handle portion iswithin convenient reach of the operator. As the handle 105 is movedforward and downward, the cam portion 107 forces the plunger 101 intopressure contact with the platform 33. When the handle 105 is in itsfull forward position, with the plunger 101 contacting the stop 109,there is sufficient friction between the plunger 101 and platform 33 tolock the seat 41 against rotation. As the handle is moved upward andbackward, the cam portion moves in the direction away from the plunger,releasing the pressure on the plunger.

A stop indicated at 113 in FIGURES 7 and 8 is fixed to the upper surfaceof the platform 33 and is engageable with the plunger 101 to prevent theseat 41 from being rotated more than 360 degrees in either direction.Thus, the seat can rotate 360 degrees in either direction from the stop113, but having rotated to the stop in one direction, it must thenrotate in the other direction. This prevents undue twisting of thecontrol leads 85.

The seat cylinder 45, together with the seat bottom closure 47 and theseat surface 61, forms an airtight enclosure 115. Air under pressure maybe introduced into the enclosure via a valve 117 which is mounted on thewall of the seat cylinder 45. Thus, the seat surface 61 may be inflatedto any desired degree. The degree of air pressure on the seat surfacerequired to comfortably support the operator is sufiiciently low thatthe operator can adjust the seat inflation to suit his taste. For thispurpose there is provided a flexible air conduit 119 fixed at one end toa fitting .121 which communicates with the inside of the seat cylinder45. The other end of the conduit 119 is normally resting on a secondfitting 123 which is closed. When the operator desires to change theseat infi-ation, he merely removes the conduit 119 irom the closedfitting 123 and either allows air to escape from the enclosure 115, orblows air in through the conduit, as he desires. When the requisite seatinflation is accomplished, the operator replaces the conduit end ontothe closed fitting 123. Thus, the initial seat inflation can beaccomplished with air taken from .a machine supply, and inflationadjustments can be made by the operator by either blowing more air in orletting some escape.

When the seat surface 61 is inflated, of course, there is air in thespace between the metal dish 51 and the seat surface 61. The openings 59in the dish 51 are sized so as to damp the movement of air due to suddenimpact loads on the seat surface 61, thus providing the operator asmoother ride.

Since the operators station 29 is a selfcontained unit, and requiresonly electrical connections with the rest of the work vehicle, thechoice of its location on the work vehicle is quite flexible. Thus, theoperators station 29 may be mounted to the vehicle at the most strategiclocation and need not interfere with the best arrangement of the vehiclestructure and work performing mechanisms.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the platform 33- which carries the operatorsseat 41 and control panel '43 forms a hinged closure for the controlapparatus compartment 31. The platform 33 is hinged at 125 on one sideand removably latched at the other side. A movable latch bolt 127 (seeFIGURES 3 and 4) is carried by a cylinder '129 which is fixed to theplatform inside surface. The bolt is spring biased and is controlled bya cam lever 131 pivoted intermediate its length on the bolt inner end.The bolt is reciprocable through an opening in the platfonn rim 133. Inthe latch position, the bolt 127 protrudes outwardly from the platformrim 133 and is received by an opening in a latch member 135 which isfixed to the control apparatus compartment 31. In the unlatchedposition, the bolt is, of course, withdrawn. The interior of the controlapparatus compartment 31 is thus readily accessible for maintenance,repair, testing, etc.

The foregoing disclosure and the showings made in the drawings aremerely illustrative of the principles of this invention and are not tobe interpreted in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An operators station for an electrically powered and controlled workvehicle comprising: a control apparatus compartment having an open top,a platform hingedly secured to said compartment and serving as a topclosure for same, a hub fixed to said platform and having a central borecommunicating with the interior of said compartment, an operators sea-t,conduit means fixed to said seat and coacting with said hub to allowpivoting movement of said seat on said hub about the hub central axis,said conduit means having a portion extending forwardly and upwardlyfrom the front of said seat, a control panel mounted on said conduitmeans at the upper end portion thereof, with said conduit meanscommunicating between said control panel and said compartment.

2. An operators station for an electrically powered and controlledvehicle comprising: a control apparatus compartment having an open top,a platform hingedly secured to said compartment and serving as a topclosure for same, latch means for said platform, a hub fixed to saidplatform and having a central bore communicating with the interior ofsaid compartment, an operators seat having a central axis, conduit meansfixed to said seat in front of said axis and coacting with said hub toallow for pivoting movement on said hub about the hub central axis, saidconduit means having a portion extending forwardly and upwardly from thefront of said seat, a control panel mounted on said conduit means at theupper end portion thereof, with said conduit means communicating betweensaid control panel and said compartment, and electrical conductorsextending via said conduit means from said compartment to said controlpanel.

3. An operators station for an electrically powered and controlledvehicle comprising: a control apparatus compartment having a hinged topclosure serving as a platform, a hub fixed to said platform and having acentral bore communicating with the interior of said compartment, anoperators seat, conduit means fixed to said seat and coacting with saidhub to allow pivoting movement of said seat on said hub about the hubcentral axis, said conduit means having a portion extending forwardlyand upwardly from the front of said seat, a control panel mounted onsaid conduit means at the upper end portion thereof, with said conduitmeans communicating between said control panel and said compartment.

4. An operators station for an electrically powered and controlledvehicle comprising: a platform mounted on said vehicle, a hub fixed tosaid platform and having a central bore communicating through saidplatform, an operators seat, conduit means fixed to said seat andcoacting with said hub to allow for pivoting movement on the hub aboutits central axis, said conduit means having a portion extendingforwardly and upwardly from the front of said seat, a control panelmounted on said conduit means at the upper end portion thereof, withsaid conduit means communicating from said control panel to beneath saidplatform.

5. An operators station for an electrically powered and controlledvehicle comprising: a platform mounted on said vehicle, a hub fixed tosaid platform and having a central bore communicating through saidplatform, an operators seat, having a central vertical axis, conduitmeans fixed to said seat in front of said axis and coacting with saidhub to allow for pivoting movement on the hub about its central axis,said conduit means having a portion extending forwardly and upwardlyfrom the front of said seat, a control panel mounted on said conduitmeans at the upper end portion thereof, with said conduit meanscommunicating from said control panel to beneath said platform.

6. An operators station for an electrically powered and controlled workvehicle comprising: a control apparatus compartment having an open top,a platform hingedly secured .to said compartment and serving as a topclosure for same, a hub fixed to said platform and having a central borecommunicating with the interior of said compartment, an operators seat,conduit means fixed to said seat and coacting with said hub to allow 360degree pivoting movement of said seat on said hub about the hub centralaxis, said conduit means having a portion extending for-wardly andupwardly from the front of said seat, a control panel mounted on saidconduit means at the upper end portion thereof, with said conduit meanscommunicating between said control panel and said compartment.

7. An operators station for an electrically powered and controlledvehicle comprising: a platform mounted on said vehicle, a hub fixed tosaid platform and having a central bore communicating through saidplatform, an operators seat, conduit means fixed to said seat andcoacting with said hub to allow for 360 degree pivoting movement on thehub about its central axis, said conduit means having a portionextending forwardly and upwardly from the front of said seat, a controlpanel mounted on said conduit means at the upper end portion thereof,with said conduit means communicating from said control panel to beneathsaid platform.

8. An operators station for an electrically powered and controlledvehicle comprising: a platform mounted on said vehicle, a hub fixed tosaid platform and having a central bore communicating through saidplatform, an operators seat, conduit means fixed to said seat andcoactmg with said hub to allow for 360 degree pivoting movement on thehub about its central axis, said conduit means having a portionextending forwardly and upwardly from the front of said seat, a controlpanel mounted on said conduit means at the upper end portion thereof,with said conduit means communicating from said control panel to beneathsaid platform, and operator controlled means for restraining said seatagainst pivoting movement at any desired seat position.

9. An operators station for an electrically powered and controlledvehicle comprising: a platform mounted on said vehicle, a hub fixed tosaid platform and having a central bore communicating through saidplatform, an operators seat including a cylindrical frame having abottom closure, conduit means fixed to said bottom closure andprotruding downwardly therefrom and fixed to said cylindrical frame andprotruding forwardly and upwardly therefrom, said conduit means and saidbottom closure supporting said seat on said hub for pivoting movementabout the hub central axis, a control panel mounted on said conduitmeans at the upper end portion thereof, with said conduit meanscommunicating from said control panel to beneath said platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,988,342 Slutz Jan. 15, 1935 2,092,669 Gr eve Sept. 7, 1937 2,216,818Kuhlman Oct. 8, 1940 2,291,626 Huber Aug. 4, 1942 2,298,230 Radke Oct.6, 1942 2,384,890 Coldwell Sept. 18, 1945 2,669,317 Celien Feb. 16, 19542,999,556 Home et al Sept. 12, 196 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 149,134 AustraliaNov. 21, 1952

1. AN OPERATOR''S STATION FOR AN ELECTRICALLY POWERED AND CONTROLLEDWORK VEHICLE COMPRISING: A CONTROL APPARATUS COMPARTMENT HAVING AN OPENTOP, A PLATFORM HINGEDLY SECURED TO SAID COMPARTMENT AND SERVING AS ATOP CLOSURE FOR SAME, A HUB FIXED TO SAID PLATFORM AND HAVING A CENTRALBORE COMMUNICATING WITH THE INTERIOR OF SAID COMPARTMNET, AN OPERATOR''SSEAT, CONDUIT MEANS FIXED TO SAID SEAT AND COACTING WITH SAID HUB TOALLOW PIVOTING MOVEMENT OF SAID SEAT ON SAID HUB ABOUT THE HUB CENTRALAXIS, AND CONDUIT MEANS HAVING A PORTION EXTENDING FORWARDLY ANDUPWARDLY FROM THE FRONT OF SAID SEAT, A CONTROL PANEL MOUNTED ON SAIDCONDUIT MEANS AT THE UPPER END PORTION THEREOF, WITH SAID CONDUIT MEANSCOMMUNICATING BETWEEN SAID CONTROL PANEL AND SAID COMPARTMENT.